Coaches collusion - Milwaukee laying over?

Came across this read yesterday and thought it had some points that caught my interest even though it is a homer article for memphis:

https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/sports/columnists/mark-giannotto/2020/08/12/nba-adam-silver-giannis-antetokounmpo-suspension-memphis-grizzlies-ja-morant/3335994001/

"And maybe Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer can do a solid for his former protege, Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins, and force Khris Middleton, Eric Bledsoe, Brook Lopez and the rest of the Bucks’ usual starting lineup to sit with their star and help him learn a valuable lesson."

"The Utah Jazz didn’t sit any starters against the Grizzlies and then seemingly benched all of them the next game. The Raptors did the same, and the Celtics are about to join them. Meanwhile, Portland and San Antonio and Phoenix all have benefited from opposing teams sitting starters."

League wide plot

The top teams in the East and West have recognized the challenge Portland can bring to the Lakers. First of all out of all the play-in teams Portland has deep playoff experience from last year and a top 5 player in the league that can steal a game or two in a series. This could be a reason why these Eastern teams did not let the foot off the gas taking double digit leads and playing starters until the end. Memphis played its best quarters in the 4th those games but could not overcome the deficits. They made it a 3 point game against Toronto late.

Example: Doc Rivers being called out for helping Portland 

https://www.nbcsports.com/northwest/portland-trail-blazers/theres-nba-conspiracy-theory-and-it-involves-trail-blazers

Coaches Collusion

From Memphis Head Coach Jenkins Wiki:

"Jenkins worked as an assistant coach for the Atlanta Hawks for 5 years (2013–2018) under head coach Mike Budenholzer. The Hawks reached the playoffs 4 consecutive years including a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2015. Jenkins helped develop four of the Hawks 2015 starting five into NBA All-Stars (four starters appeared on the 2015 NBA All-Star roster). Jenkins later followed Budenholzer to be an assistant for the Milwaukee Bucks during the 2018–19 NBA season. The Bucks finished with a league best 60 wins, and clinched the #1 spot in the Eastern Conference for the first time in 45 years."

1.) Does Budenholzer recognizes the league wide effort to keep his former protege from gaining the recognition he has earned for building this Memphis team into one of the biggest surprises with one of the brightest futures of young talent and a future super star in Morant? 

2.) Does not having Giannis make this an easy game to say lets rest and get ready for the playoffs?

3.) Does Budenholzer think they still need some tuning before the playoffs and uses his line-up as usual minus Giannis?

Early Leans

Even if Memphis wins today they still have to get past Portland in the play-in game. With a loss they could be eliminated. I'm sure Budenholzer wants the Lakers to face Portland as well, but he can also right a wrong and let Memphis show what they are made of in a spotlight game for the play-in.

Line movement went from a Mem +3 to a -2.5 already this morning.

Leaning Memphis ML to be safe 

good info

No it did not do that this morning.  Memphis opened up this AM as short favorite 2.5 at most shops, offshore & Vegas.  The dog line was from yesterday.  Not saying Memphis is bad bet but don't be fooled, that line movement does not reflect what you are inferring.  Thanks for sharing the article though, good reads....GL   

Dude must you fall for this again. Bucks are going to win the game. Memphis is going to lose. If Memphis wins then they are in.... you think the league wants memphis vs portland in the play-in smh dont be naieve. If Bucks wanted to "lay down" they would not even play Lopez and Bledsoe and Middleton among others. THINK... this is why luca porzingas etc are playing against suns... to provide an entertaining game where we can look at the scores in split screen between Memphis and Suns.... Again, like I told you the other day with Celtics and they won EXACTLY how i said..... Memphis will come out competitive... bucks will come back and win the game.... Now with the Suns game it will be maybe overtime neck and neck exciting and Booker will go crazy to either lose by a few or win of course... spurs will beat Utah .. and then the story is Blazers must win to get in... MARK MY WORDS. 

Dude must you fall for this again. Bucks are going to win the game. Memphis is going to lose. If Memphis wins then they are in.... you think the league wants memphis vs portland in the play-in smh dont be naieve. If Bucks wanted to "lay down" they would not even play Lopez and Bledsoe and Middleton among others. THINK... this is why luca porzingas etc are playing against suns... to provide an entertaining game where we can look at the scores in split screen between Memphis and Suns.... Again, like I told you the other day with Celtics and they won EXACTLY how i said..... Memphis will come out competitive... bucks will come back and win the game.... Now with the Suns game it will be maybe overtime neck and neck exciting and Booker will go crazy to either lose by a few or win of course... spurs will beat Utah .. and then the story is Blazers must win to get in... MARK MY WORDS. 

I was using the covers line movement, I saw Bet365 opened early morning and was using it when I wrote the blub, but I usually default to Pinnacle for line movement and you are right. Regardless I think the books are expecting Milwaukee won't be at their full today hence the line.

phx wins 

spurs win 

memphis doesn’t 

portland in the late night game has to win and they are in 

Doesn't matter who sits who plays. No team has home court this year. It comes down to the better team. So if Portland gets in and plays the Lakers then the Lakers have to be the better team in the series or they get knocked out. The Clippers and Raptors look like the teams I wouldn't want to play if I had the choice. The Clippers are just hard to play against. The Raptors are the champs and they have the heart of champs. They will be a hard team to beat in a 7 game series.

EXACTLY. Rather obvious to those truly observant. Suns won't cover though i'll say that. 

theyve covered like 7 in a row so it’s not unlikely that they won’t 

Who makes the Play-In if 9th seed is tied 

60 reserve player minutes are confirmed out. Bledsoe questionable, speculated to be on limit restriction (avg 27 mpg).

Giannis out 30 mpg.

This is a trap game, everyone thinks the Grizzlies are a lock to win yet they wont... This game isnt even on National Television just like Celtics/Grizz last night wasnt either... Why would they not show the Grizz when they are in a must win situation... That makes no sense.. Does the League seriously want the boring Grizz to be playing in the Play-in.. Giannis getting suspended is just to distract people even tho he prolly wasnt gonna play anyways...

This explains how it shapes up today

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2020/08/13/nba-live-updates-breaking-down-play-game-scenarios-each-team/3359553001/

Dude bledsoe and Divencenzo aren't out. Only people out are Giannis, George Hill, Matthews and Ilyasova. Basketball wise though they don't need any of that to beat the Grizz. Their bench matches up perfect against them. If you want to talk from a "basketball" standpoint. Entertainment wise.... Grizz simply aren't going to win this game.. NBA is not having it. What's very telling is that the prop bets for their players haven't even moved my guy. Nobody is going to magically go off to get Grizz into the playin

Its fine man.. they dont want to see it. It was a trap to draw Grizz money in and to have some eyes on the game. 

Your input isn't helpful to the discussion. The outcome of this game doesn't even validate your capping.

Also you and Scripted enter alot of threads talking the same thing. Sure that isn't a second account?

It clearly says probable...

This boring team is 1 - 6 in the Bubble and the League may have them win, hahaha no wonder why the ratings are down... No one is gonna watch the Play-In barring a scripted comeback by the Bucks.. There is no point to even watch the Spurs game or the Blazers game... If they are gonna have this boring team make it, may as well have them win by 30+ points to give fans a reason to watch the Play-in and to give the fans a reason to think they can beat whoever they play... Unless the magnetic rims get turned on for the Bucks in the 2nd half or they play like it is Game 7, there is no chance they win..

Nice intel, buddy. Great read. Love the angle. Hope it hits for you.

Not happening. Bucks are going to come back and Middleton is going to get his record doing so. Booker's performance is not going to go in vain.

Here's one for the tin foilers. Adam Silver saw how bad the Lakers played against the Kings and now wants Memphis to face Lakers so they can get out of first round. LeESPN has to be ensured a clear path to his throne.